Electrical capacitor bank

ABSTRACT

A capacitor bank that includes at least two capacitors wherein the capacitor bank is configured to change the quantity of phases of the input voltage within the capacitor bank. The capacitor bank of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor and second capacitor are three phase capacitors each having three terminals configured to couple to an input voltage. The capacitor bank is wired so as to have a first source of an input voltage coupled to two terminals of the first capacitor and one terminal of the second capacitor. A second source of the input voltage is electrically coupled to one terminal of the first capacitor and two terminals of the second capacitor. The capacitor bank is operable to change the double phase input voltage into three phases within the capacitor bank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/841,722 filed on Apr. 7, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/536,173 filed on Aug. 8, 2019. The entiredisclosure of each of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/536,173 andU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/841,722 is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electrical power management,more specifically but not by way of limitation, an electrical capacitorbank that is configured to reduce the total kilowatts needed foroperation of an electrical device such as but not limited to anelectrical motor.

BACKGROUND

As is known in the art capacitors store an electrical charge for asubsequent use. Electrical capacitors consist of one or more pairs ofconductors that are separated by an insulating material. Conventionalcapacitors are connected in parallel often with direct current powercircuits to provide current absent of fluctuations. Power is provided inphases conventionally referred to as double-phase or three- phasevoltage. The difference between phases is ranges from one hundred andtwenty degree difference to one hundred and eighty degree difference. Inan alternating current electrical system, power factor is the ratio ofreal power absorbed by the load to the apparent power flowing in thecircuit. This is a dimensionless number in the closed interval ofnegative one to positive one. A power factor of less than one indicatesthe voltage and current are not in phase. Real power is theinstantaneous product of voltage and current and represent the capacityof the electricity for performing work. Apparent power is the averageproduct of current and voltage.

In an electric power system, a device having a load with a low powerfactor draws more current than device having a load with a high powerfactor for the same amount of useful power transferred. The highercurrents increase the energy lost in the system, and require largerwires and other equipment. Because of the costs of larger equipment andwasted energy due to the aforementioned inefficiencies, electricalutility companies will usually charge a higher cost to industrial orcommercial customers where there is a low power factor.

Accordingly, there is a need for an electrical capacitor bank thatprovides an arrangement that is operable to change the electrical phaseinput so as to reduce the amount of amperes needed to operate a devicesuch as an electrical motor having a ampere requirement that is greaterthan the input amperes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a capacitor bankand wiring arrangement thereof that is operable to increase the phaseoutput from the received phase input wherein the capacitor bank utilizesat least two capacitors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a capacitor bankconfigured to produce three phase output subsequent receipt of doublephase input wherein each of the capacitors include three connectionterminals.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a capacitor bankand wiring arrangement thereof that is operable to increase the phaseoutput from the received phase input configured to produce three phaseoutput from two phase input in order to achieve reduction of totalamperage consumption.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a capacitorbank configured to produce three phase output subsequent receipt ofdouble phase input wherein an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is applicable to three phase input.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a capacitorbank and wiring arrangement thereof that is operable to increase thephase output from the received phase input in order to achieve a powerfactor for the user thereof of at least ninety percent.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a capacitorbank configured to produce three phase output subsequent receipt ofdouble phase input wherein the distribution of the line input across thecapacitor bank provides phase conversion thereof within the capacitorbank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide capacitor bank andwiring arrangement thereof that is operable to increase the phase outputfrom the received phase input wherein the capacitors utilized in thecapacitor bank are rated between 1 to 10,000 KVAR.

Still and additional object of the present invention is to provide acapacitor bank configured to produce three phase output subsequentreceipt of double phase input wherein the capacitor bank of the presentinvention can be configured to receive input voltage within the range of120 to 138,000 volts.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the presentinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings areillustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of thepresent invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a capacitor bank of the present inventionconfigured for three phase electrical input; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a capacitor bank of the present inventionconfigured for double phase electrical input.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein variouselements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and whereinthrough the views and figures like elements are referenced withidentical reference numerals, there is illustrated a capacitor bank 100constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein withreference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the detailed description herein with respect tothese figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention that alternative embodimentsare plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, thosehaving skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the presentinvention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitableapproaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application toimplement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyondthat of the particular implementation choices in the embodimentdescribed herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within thescope of the present invention.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular methodology, materials, uses and applicationsdescribed herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit thescope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein andin the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the pluralreference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or moreelements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in theart. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusivesense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having thedefinition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusiveor” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structuresdescribed herein are to be understood also to refer to functionalequivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed toexpress approximation should be so understood unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplaryembodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure or characteristic.

Referring now in particular to the Figures submitted as a part hereof,the capacitor bank 100 includes a first capacitor 10 and a secondcapacitor 20. The first capacitor 10 and second capacitor 20 areconventional three phase capacitors. As is known in the art, capacitorsare passive electrical components consisting of conductors separated bya non-conductive region, which can be configured in alternate manners.Within the scope of the present invention the first capacitor 10 andsecond capacitor 20 are manufactured as conventional capacitors whereinthe first capacitor 10 and second capacitor 20 are configured for threephase power as is further discussed herein.

The first capacitor 10 includes a first terminal 11, second terminal 12and third terminal 13. The first terminal 11, second terminal 12 andthird terminal 13 are configured to electrically couple to input voltageL1 and L2. The second capacitor 20 also includes terminals 21, 22 and23. The terminals 21, 22 and 23 are also configured to be electricallycoupled to either input voltage of L1 and/or L2. As is shown in FIG. 2herein, the distribution of input voltage L1 and L2 produces the inputvoltage phase conversion within the first capacitor 10 and secondcapacitor 20 wherein the phase conversion results from changing thedouble phase input of L1 and L2 into a three phase voltage within thecapacitor bank 100 as the first capacitor 10 and second capacitor 20 arethree phase capacitors. Conversion of the double phase input to threephase within the capacitor bank is achieved through the illustratedoperable connections of the input voltage L1 and L2 across the firstcapacitor 10 and second capacitor 20. This results in a decrease inamperage of at least fifty percent. By way of example but notlimitation, a two and a half horse power motor 50 requiring two hundredand forty volts was conventionally wired utilizing double phase inputand resulted in a amperage consumption of approximately thirteen amps.Placing the capacitor bank 100 electrically intermediate the inputvoltage and the electric motor 50, the electric motor 50 at operationwas measured at approximately three amperes of draw.

Input voltage L1 is electrically coupled to the first terminal 11 andsecond terminal 12 of the first capacitor 10. Additionally, the inputvoltage L1 is further electrically coupled to third terminal 23 of thesecond capacitor 20. Input voltage L2 is electrically coupled to thethird terminal 13 of the first capacitor 10 and terminals 21,22 of thesecond capacitor 20. The input voltage of L1 and L2 can be either onehundred and twenty volts or two hundred and forty volts. In theexemplary embodiment discussed prior hereto and illustrated in FIG. 1 ,the first capacitor 10 and second capacitor 20 have a rating of one toten thousand KVAR. The illustrated wiring configuration of L1 and L2alters the double phase input thereof into three phases within the firstcapacitor 10 and second capacitor 20. The electrical connections arespecific because of the wave form of the input voltage L1 and L2. Thewiring configuration results in the ability to operate electricaldevices such as but not limited to an electrical motor 50 utilizing lessamperes so as ultimately to reduce overall power consumption.

Input voltage L1 is electrically coupled twice to the first capacitor 10and once to the second capacitor 20. The input voltage L2 iselectrically coupled twice to the second capacitor 20 and once to thefirst capacitor 10. The aforementioned electrical couplings provideconversion within the capacitor bank 100 of double phase power intothree phase power within the capacitor bank 100. Connection of the inputvoltage twice to a first capacitor and once to second capacitor withinthe capacitor bank 100 provides the discussed benefit of amperagereduction and further provides a power factor of at least ninety percentso as to reduce or eliminate additional fees that may be charged by autility provider for having a power factor that is less than ninetypercent. It should be understood within the scope of the presentinvention that the input voltage could range form 120 volts to 138,000volts.

Now referring to FIG. 1 submitted herewith, an alternative embodiment ofthe capacitor bank 200 is illustrated therein. Capacitor bank 200 issimilar to capacitor bank 100 but capacitor bank 200 includes a firstcapacitor 210, second capacitor 220 and third capacitor 230 electricallycoupled to motor 250. The capacitor bank 200 is configured to beelectrically coupled to three phase power (L1, L2, L3). The firstcapacitor 210, second capacitor 220 and third capacitor 230 are allthree phase capacitors conventionally manufactured each having threeterminals 240. The capacitor bank 200 is electrically coupled to threephase power represented in FIG. 2 herein with L1, L2 and L3designations. As previously discussed herein, each input voltage iselectrically coupled twice to a single capacitor and once to anothercapacitor present in the capacitor bank 200. The capacitor bank 200 isconfigured to receive voltage inputs ranging from 120 volts to 4160volts. The first capacitor 210, second capacitor 220 and third capacitor230 are rated between 1 and 10,000 KVAR. While two embodiments of thecapacitor bank 100, 200 have been illustrated herein having a particularnumber of capacitors, it is contemplated within the scope of the presentinvention that the present invention could employ alternate quantitiesof capacitors depending upon the quantity of phases of the power beingelectrically coupled thereto. In order to achieve the wiringdistribution discussed and illustrated herein, the quantity ofcapacitors within the capacitor bank 100, 200 are equal to the quantityof input voltage lines. Additionally, it is intended within the scope ofthe present invention that the input voltage for the capacitor bank 200could be configured to range from 120 to 138,000 volts.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitableembodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description mayomit certain information known to those skilled in the art. Thepreceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limitedto the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, ascan be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1.-15. (canceled)
 16. A capacitor bank operably coupled intermediate apower source and an electrically operated device, the capacitor bankcomprising: at least two three-phase capacitors electrically coupled toan input node for receiving an input voltage from the power source, theat least two three-phase capacitors being configured to alter a powerphase therein, whereby lowering an amperage of the input voltage toreduce power consumption at the electrically operated device.
 17. Thecapacitor bank of claim 16, wherein the input node is electricallycoupled to a first capacitor and a second capacitor.
 18. The capacitorbank of claim 17, wherein the input node comprises a first input voltageline electrically coupled to two terminals of the first three-phasecapacitor, and one terminal of the second three-phase capacitor.
 19. Thecapacitor bank of claim 18, wherein input node comprises a second inputvoltage line electrically coupled to a terminal of the first three-phasecapacitor, and two terminals of the second three-phase capacitor. 20.The capacitor bank of claim 16, wherein the at least two three-phasecapacitors have a rating between 1 to 10,000 KVAR.
 21. The capacitorbank of claim 16, wherein the input voltage is within a range of 120 to4160 volts.
 22. A capacitor bank for converting double-phase power tothree-phase power, the capacitor bank comprising: an input node forreceiving an input voltage; a first three-phase capacitor electricallycoupled to the input node; and a second three-phase capacitorelectrically coupled to the input node and the first three-phasecapacitor, the input voltage being distributed across the firstthree-phase capacitor and the second three-phase capacitor, wherebychanging a phase of the input voltage from double-phase to three-phase.23. The capacitor bank of claim 22, wherein the input node comprises afirst input voltage line electrically coupled to two terminals of thefirst three-phase capacitor, and one terminal of the second three-phasecapacitor.
 24. The capacitor bank of claim 23, wherein the input nodecomprises a second input voltage line electrically coupled to a terminalof the first three-phase capacitor, and two terminals of the secondthree-phase capacitor.
 25. The capacitor bank of claim 22, wherein eachof the first three-phase capacitor and the second three-phase capacitorhas a rating between 1 to 10,000 KVAR.
 26. The capacitor bank of claim22, wherein the input voltage is within a range of 120 to 4160 volts.27. A method for reducing a power consumption at an electricallyoperated device comprising: providing a capacitor bank intermediate apower source and the electrically operated device, the capacitor bankcomprising at least two three-phase capacitors configured to alter apower phase therein; and electrically coupling the at least twothree-phase capacitors to an input node for receiving an input voltagefrom the power source; whereby lowering an amperage of the inputvoltage.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least twothree-phase capacitors comprises a first three-phase capacitor and asecond three-phase capacitor, and electrically coupling the at least twothree-phase capacitors to the input node comprises: electricallycoupling a first input voltage line to two terminals of the firstthree-phase capacitor, and to a terminal of the second three-phasecapacitor.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein electrically coupling theat least two three-phase capacitors to the input node further comprises:electrically coupling a second input voltage line to two terminals thesecond three-phase capacitor, and a terminal of the first three-phasecapacitor.
 30. The method of claim 27 comprises operating the capacitorbank to provide a power factor of approximately ninety percent.
 31. Themethod of claim 27, wherein the input voltage is within a range of 20 to4160 volts.
 32. A method for converting double-phase power tothree-phase power, the method comprising: providing a capacitor bankcomprising a first three-phase capacitor and a second three-phasecapacitor; electrically coupling the first three-phase capacitor to aninput node; and electrically coupling the second three-phase capacitorto the input node and the first three-phase capacitor, the input voltagebeing distributed across the first three-phase capacitor and the secondthree-phase capacitor whereby a phase of the input voltage received fromthe input node changes from double-phase to three-phase.
 33. The methodof claim 32, wherein electrically coupling the first three-phasecapacitor to the input node comprises: electrically coupling a firstinput voltage line of the input node to two terminals of the firstthree-phase capacitor and one terminal of the second three-phasecapacitor.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein electrically coupling thesecond three-phase capacitor to the input node and the first three-phasecapacitor comprises: electrically coupling a second input voltage lineof the input node to one terminal of the first three-phase capacitor andtwo terminals of the second three-phase capacitor.
 35. The method ofclaim 32 comprises operating the capacitor bank to provide a powerfactor of approximately ninety percent.